Welcome to the First Year Blog!
WHAT A WONDERFUL HALF TERM
What an action-packed start to Hampton life for our First Years. They are fully fledged Hampton pupils now, knowing their way around the School, immersing themselves in co-curricular life and throwing themselves into their studies with much enthusiasm. They have definitely earned the two week break that half term brings.
As it is half-term and boys have had a very busy seven weeks we are not setting any extra homework, boys will receive their normal Friday homework but that should be it. We would like the boys to use this half term to rest, relax and re-charge their batteries for what will no doubt be another very busy half term when they return to School.
AMAZING ART
1W have been showing their Form Tutors their works of art they have been working on at home, what wonderful shapes and shading!
MEET OUR MEDIA REPS
Budding journalists in the First Year have been busy writing from the front lines about Hampton life this week, here is what some of them have are reporting on.
TUTOR PROFILES WITH AADI K
The best way to learn is through asking questions.
This week I interviewed my Form Tutor and English Teacher Mrs Whitwam.
To be or not to be. That is the question.
William Shakespeare
What are some successful teaching methods you use?
I use role play when reading, getting outside when I can and making the lessons fast paced.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced in the classroom?
Definitely in the COVID pandemic, cleaning the desks, staying confined in the yellow box and not being able to mark the boy’s books as I normally do.
What book are you reading at the moment?
At the moment I’m reading “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer. It’s about an author who’s about to turn 50 and his struggles in life.
Where did you graduate from?
Cambridge University, the course I did was English literature.
What were your favourite subjects in school?
My favourite subjects were English, Art and Biology.
Have you ever been bored while teaching?
No, I’ve been stressed but never bored.
How do you stay organised?
Good question. PASS!
What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Probably getting engaged to my husband 4 months after meeting.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
We are pleased to share with you an impressive piece of writing by one of our First Year pupils.
In PSHE this week, our First Years had the opportunity to discuss further questions about attitudes to race, social justice, diversity and equality as we continue to conduct an extended listening process on these important matters with our School community. Lucas ST has written the following piece for Black History Month and following on from what took place in PSHE this week.
This month isn’t just Halloween, it is also Black History month! We will be looking a few Icons who fought for equality starting with… Claudette Colvin. She was born on September 5, 1939. She is a retired American nurse aide who was a pioneer of the 1950s civil right movement. On 2 March 2 1955, she got arrested for simply sitting on a white seat in a crowded bus and refusing to give it up to a white women.
The next person is, Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King is a very famous activist and American Christian Minister. He was born on 15 January 1929. He is well known for advancing civil rights through non-violent and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the non-violent activism of Mahatma Gahdi. He delivered his speech ‘I have a dream’ speech on the steps of Lincoln Memorial. He was later assassinated in 4 April 1968.
Next, is George Floyd. Although he didn’t fight for equality, events that occurred with him led to a worldwide campaign for equality.
These are few of the many incredible people, but there are many more. Racism is a very bad thing. Simply because people are different to you, doesn’t mean you should be rude to them. You can help by donating to charities that promote diversity. We talked about this topic in a PSHE lesson this week and discussed ways in which we could support and learn about diversity both at school and in our communities.
It has been a great term in Hampton and it is now a 2 week holiday!
During Black History Month 2020, Hamptonians are being encouraged to reflect on the themes of diversity, equality and inclusion. As part of a range of initiatives taking part across School life, and as part of our ongoing listening exercise with members of our community, Hamptonians are being invited to reflect on the themes of diversity, equality and inclusion. Pupils from all year groups are welcome to produce a piece of work, find out more here:
WORLD SMILE DAY AND NATIONAL POETRY DAY
Faris S has combined celebrating these two days by writing a poem about World Smile Day:
The Smiling Ocean
Slithering through the ocean, streamlined,
Smooth scales flash on the surface,
The little girl smiles at the sight of a fish
So her mother tells her a story.
“You know,” she says,
“Fish are our ancestors,”
“they evolved into us, isn’t that amazing!”
The girl looked at her blankly, in confusion.
She was only three anyway.
It spread a smile on her face as bubbles hit the surface
She slipped her hand out of the boat and let in hang in the water.
She felt the water rush through her fingertips
And laughed until she could no more
Fish swam with the boat and the sun set in the distance.
The briny, salty smell of water flowed through her nose,
The waves crashing against the boat in a calming way,
Splish, splash on the side of the boat,
The salt melting on her tongue.
“I like fish,” she said. After all, she was right to do so,
They are vital to our Earth.
They are vital to our existence.
They are beautiful.
BEEKEEPING CLUB BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT
This week Beekeeping club started up, Advait B reports:
On Wednesday 14 October, lots of boys (including myself) went to Beekeeping Club. We learnt the life cycle of a bee and how to pour honey into a jar. We also looked at the different parts of a beehive, how pollination works and how bees turn nectar into honey. There are around 50,000 bees in a single hive and the queen lays 2,000 eggs each day. Bees store honey in winter to survive as the flowers do not create nectar. Bees are the biggest pollinators in the world and local honey contains pollen, so eating it can cure hay fever as a sort of vaccine. There are three types of bees in the hive. They are called drones, workers and the queen. There are 20,000 species of honeybee but only one is the common honeybee. The first week after half term, there will be a honey sale. Each jar is £2.50, so come to the club if you want to buy some!
Have a look at the video below if you want find out more about what our First Years go up to in Beekeeping Club:
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Kanishk M gives us something to think about:
The Year without a Summer
The bright sun was extinguished, and the stars did wander darkling in the eternal space, and the icy earth swung blind and blackening in the moonless air, …the winds were withered …and the clouds perished, darkness had no need of aid from them…
Lord Byron
The year was 1816, Europe and England had been through tumultuous times, devastating the economy, and though signs of recovery started to show, nature had other plans.
After two years of poor harvests, spring brought heavy rains and cold, that flooded rivers and failed crops from Scotland to Switzerland. Meanwhile, odd-coloured snow fell in Italy and Hungary. Famines, riots and epidemics ensued. Soon after, New England was covered by strange fog that would not disperse and the ground stayed frozen deep into June.
They had no idea of knowing that the source of their troubles had occurred thousands of miles away with the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora (a supervolcano), the largest eruption in recorded history, releasing 160 cubic kilometers of debris and noxious fumes, 40x more than Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii.
When in the atmosphere, the gasses and ash would block out the sun, causing surface temperature to cool drastically, and causing acid rain, which can affect multiple continents, destroying the plant life that humans and other animals live on. It caused as many as 90,000 deaths.
The most dangerous, and common type of supervolcano is an explosive caldera, this is when magma builds up against a collapsed volcano and forces its way out in a massive explosion.
And while our methods of protection against these monsters has improved, the idea that a single volcano could end civilisations from half a world away will remain a powerfully terrifying vision which is closer than we wish to reality.
FANTASTIC FOOTBALL
Our U12As were back on the fields last weekend, Mr Knibbs managed to get a photograph of a few of our players. Mr Knibbs reports:
I enjoyed watching the U12As play last Saturday morning against Aldenham School, winning 6-4! I look forward to watching the team flourish during their Hampton careers, and I’m predicting another ESFA Cup National Title in 2027!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!
We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of school. Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mrs Halford.
Congratulations to Faris for being awarded Man of the Match last weekend for scoring 2 goals and one assist with his Football Team, the Met Police Team, against Ashford Town Juniors. What an amazing achievement, well done Faris!
TUTEE OF THE WEEK
Each week Mrs Peattie and Mr Hill select a Tutee of the Week from the nominations sent in by the First Year Form Tutors. This person is selected for their all-round contribution to Hampton life and for displaying a great attitude. Congratulations to this week’s winner of the award: Edward B (1W) for his fantastic attitude and conduct that has been evident from him right from the start of this term.
FIRST YEAR 5 QUESTIONS
A few questions for you to have a go at yourself or challenge people at home if they know the answer. Merits are awarded for everyone who has a go! Just click on the link below and enter your answers and points for the Inter-Form Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries every week.
- Saying the name of what dried fruit used to be used to encourage people to smile before a photo in the 1800s, before the phrase “cheese?”
- What are the five colours of the Olympic rings?
- Where is the US Masters golf tournament held?
- Which British actor will play Batman in the upcoming reboot directed by Matt Reeves?
- What language is spoken in Brazil?
Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers here.
Remember to write your name in the form so you can be credited with merits! Merits will be added to our remote merit log and if you have space add a merit in the back of your diaries!
We had an impressive 40 entries for the 5 questions last week, 1B and 1J are drawn with 8 entries each! Well done to the following boys (make sure to add your merits in the back of your homework diaries):
1B: Adam M, Jack Y, Alessio C, Joshua C, Boris D, Sebastian W, Aditya K, Advait
1F: Johnny R, Charlie H, Azam A, Eric, Max F, Patrick M, Jasper E
1H: Arun S, Isa, Prabodha A
1J: Josh G, Nathaniel C, Maxwell G, Caspar S, Ben B, Daniel T, Joshua R, Ameya
1L: Gregory M, Jaipaal G, Agalyan S, Aadi K
1P: Arie B, Raif D, Elamaran R, Eugene
1W: Faris S, Oliver A, Luca K, Leander KB, Tanmay B, Kanishk
And here are the answers to last week’s 5 questions:
- What does the word petrichor refer to? The scent produced when rail falls on dry soil
- How many permanent teeth does a dog have? 42
- What is the full postcode of the Houses of Parliament? W1A 0AA
- Gouda is a popular cheese originating from which country? The Netherlands
- Which city is further west – Bristol or Edinburgh? Edinburgh
